It all began with other musical group, Goose House, whom I've been fond of. Around 2015, I stumbled upon their cover of RADWIMPS' Iindesuka, sparking my interest in the band. Since then, RADWIMPS have been on my radar.
In the same year, their vocalist/songwriter, Noda Yojiro made his debut as an actor in the film Pieta in the Toilet as the main character, co-starring with actress Sugisaki Hana. I was captivated by Noda-san's performance, which fueled my curiosity about him and the band.
I feel so blessed that the band have released three new studio albums starting from Ningen Kaika (2016), Anti Anti Generation (2018) to Forever Daze (2021). In addition to this, RADWIMPS once again collaborated with Director Makoto Shinkai for two more films, Tenki no Ko (2019) and Suzume no Tojimari (2022).
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The band consistently succeed in capturing our hearts. Noda-san's songwriting always hits the mark, showcasing his exceptional talent. I eagerly anticipate the possibility of them recording a new album in the near future.
PANDEMIC 2019: KEEPING MY SANITY
We were fortunate that Noda-san continued to serenade us via a series of IG live sessions. One particular special moment was when they released a song called Cocorononaca (StayHome Version) which depicts longing to go back to the normal life we had before. This song, along with Seikai, was my jam during the stay-at-home period.
The group also released a compilation album titled 2+0+2+1+3+1+1= 10 Years 10 Songs to commemorate the Great East Japan Earthquake. The profits from the album went towards various charities. Listening to this album brought tears to my eyes the entire time. It's a wonderful gesture from them, reinforcing the idea that music has the power to aid those who are struggling. (spotify link here)
CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT
Fast forward to the year 2024. Despite their numerous Asia Tours in the past, Philippines has consistently been left out of the lineup. However, in January 2024, they finally announced their "The Way You Yawn, and the Outcry of Peace" Tour in Asia, and Manila was included for the first time. As a long time fan, I automatically seized the rare chance to witness my favorite band performing live on stage. Given the uncertainty of when their next world tour might be, it felt like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As this would mark as my first concert experience in my life, my friends, who are also an avid enthusiasts of Japanese Entertainment Industry, really helped me a lot. Thank you so much Chisa-chan, ate Ysa, ate Reika, sudayan and kuya Ais ^^
CONCERT DAY: MAY 1, 2024
It was a sold-out show ! The arena was full-packed !!!
As soon as they started playing the first song, I couldn't contain my excitement and I screamed my heart out. It was surreal to finally see them in person. Is this even real? Am I dreaming? However, what caught me off guard was Noda-san's attire on the first half, a summer-style blue-green polo which is far different from his usual long sleeve white/black wardrobe, perhaps the hot temperature here influenced his choice.
I was ecstatic when they included Never Ever Ender in their setlist. Not to brag, but I'm pretty sure I was the most enthusiastic in our section because I sang along LOUDLY to almost every song they performed since I know the lyrics.
The crowd went wild when Toaka-chan appeared and performed Suzume, her live rendition was identical to the studio recording, such a heavenly voice she got. The audience is filled with excitement whenever the band will play a song from Director Makoto Shinkai's films. Noda-san even acknowledged this, asking if majority of us discovered the band through Shinkai's movies, to which the crowd responded with a resounding "yes."
The overall experience was phenomenal, truly magical. Two hours went by so fast, I didn't even realized that they have already sang 18 songs. Indeed this rare opportunity reaffirms the power of manifestation.
The most memorable part for me was Noda's remarks which I think is the highlight of the concert. For context, RADWIMPS visited significant historical sites in the Philippines, honoring the Filipino people's brutal experience during the Japanese Occupation in World War II :
❝....I just want to say that this tour’s title is called ‘The Way You Yawn, and the Outcry of Peace.’ And we don’t want to forget what the people did, I truly feel grateful to be here and stand in front of you guys and perform the music. And you guys cheer with the music. This means so much to us. So, we would like to keep this peace moving forward with our music. ❞
It is truly admirable how RADWIMPS continues to use their platform to advocate peace beyond just entertainment. I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation to Noda-san, Takeda-san, and Kuwa-chan for the incredible performance. Thank you for coming to the Philippines, this moment will forever be etched in my memory. Aishiteruyo~
You are so lucky to see them live. π
ReplyDeletethank you π
Deletehoping that someday, you can also see them perform live ^^